Shipping-crate.



G. A. WALTON.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9,1910,

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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0. A. WALTON.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1910.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETSHSHEET 2.

THE Norems Perses cn., wAsmNaroN. D. i.

man sie CHARLES A. WALTON, OF BROKEN BOW, NEBRASKA.

SHIPPING-CRATE.

Application led April 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. VALTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Broken Bow, in the county of Custer and State of Nebraska,have invented new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of 1 whichthe following is a specification.

The invention appertains to coops or crates for shipping poultry andsmall live stock, the purpose being to provide a shipping receptaclewhich will prevent injury to the stock shipped and which at the sametime will admit of the crate being-reduced to a compact form forreshipmeut, the parts being of such construction and arrangement as tofold closely and to preventdisplacement since all with the exception ofthe top are positively connected and the top when in place is madesecure and holds the other parts in folded position.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of constructionand combination 0f parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlyset forth, illustrated in the aeeompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the application, Figure 1is a perspective view of a crate or shipping receptacle embodying theinvention as it appears when set up for use. Fig. 2 is a verticalcentral longitudinal section of the crate on the line -fe of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the crate on the line 1/-3/ of Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the crate folded. Fig. 5 is a crosssection of the crate on the line 2 2- of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detailview, showing more particularly the door and the securing meanscooperating therewith.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the samereference characters.

The crate comprises a bottom 1, sides 2, ends 3, a partition 4 and a top5. The inclosing walls and partition are hinged at their lower edges tothe bottom so as to fold thereon. The top 5 is separate from the sidesand is adapted to be held ,in place by suitable fastenings. The bottom 1may be of anyv formation and is generally composed of boards closelyfitted and secured by means of cleats. The sides 2 and ends 3 aregenerally formed of slats which are spaced apart and which are connectedby cleats or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lli'ar. 7, 1911.

1910. Serial. No. 554,473.

strips, the spaces admitting air and light. The top 5 is constructed ina like manner of slats and connecting' strips. rlhe partition 4 tiscentrally disposed and is hinged at its f lower edge to the bottom inany manner to admit of its folding close upon the bottom. The ends 3like the partition 4 are hinged f at their lower edges to said bottom soas to fold thereon. The hinges G for connecting the parts 2, 3, and 4 tothe bottom may be of any construction.

he sides 2 are hinged to the bottom 1 in a manner to admit of thepartition and ends cmning between said bottom and sides when the latterare folded. The hinges 7 connecting the sides with the bottom have onemember secured to the bottom and the other member offset and attached toa block S, whereby said member is spaced from the side a distance which,in conjunction with the offset portion, enables the sides when folded tobe spaced from the bottom a distance to accommodate the partition andends in the space. The blocks 8 are located near the ends of the sidesso as to enter the spaces formed between the two lower strips or slatsof the end pieces when the latter' are folded. lVhen the sides and endsare in upright position they are secured near their upper edges by meansof hooks 9, which are pivotally connected to the sides near theircorners and are adapted to engage eyes 10 near the upper outer cornersof the ends The top 5 is provided with hooks 11 which cooperate witheyes 1Q provided upon the ends 3 so as to hold the top in place when thecrate is set up for use. lhen the crate is folded, as indicated in Fig.4, the hooks 11 engage eyes 13 provided upon the ends of the bottom. Thepartition 4 is held in upright position by engaging a cross piece 14applied to the inner side of the top and of such construction as toengage the upper edge of the partition. Access is had to thecompartments provided upon opposite sides of the partition by means ofopenings formed in the top and which are closed by doors 15. The doors15 are hinged at one end and are adapted to swing open and shut at theopposite end.

Each of the doors 15 is hinged and operated by means of a device ofsubstantially X-form and constructed of a single length of spring wire.The operating device comprises two members 1G, which cross intermediateof their ends and a third member 17,

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which connects the members 1G at one end and which member is pivotallyconnected to the top at one end of the opening for which the door isprovided. rIlle staples 18 embrace the third member 17 and are driveninto the top and serve to pivotally connect the door and the Operatingmember to said top. The free ends of the members 16 terminate in outerextensions 19, which ar-e adapted to engage eyes Q appli-ed to the topat the end of the door opening' opposite that to Which the door ispivoted. lVhen the outer extensions 19 are engaged With the eyes Q0 thedoor 15 is held closed. By pressing the outer ends of the members 16together the extensions 19 are disengaged from the eyes 20, therebypermitting the door to be swung open. A keeper 21 is provided at thefree end of each of the doors and extends over the outer portions ofthe. members 1G so as to hold the same to the door. Staples Q2 securethe members 1G to the door near its inner or pivotal end.

lire netting 23 is applied to the top and inclosing sides of the crateand prevents the stock from projecting the head or feet beyond the crateWith the liability of injury which frequently occurs from this source.The crate may be constructed of any material so long as the inclos'mgWalls have openings for the admission of light and air. lVhen tlie crateis constructed of Wooden strips the Wire netting is employed, but in theevent of the inclosing sides being of sheet metal the same isperforated, thereby avoiding the necessity for using tvire netting aswill be readily understood. lVhen the crate is to be folded the top isremoved and the partition e and ends 3 are folded upon the bottom afterWhich the sides Q are folded upon the partition and ends andsubsequently the top is placed in position upon the folded sides andsecured by m-ans of the hooks 11, which are engaged with the eyes 13 inthe manner stated and as shoivn in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of themethod of operation Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artto which the invention appertains, and While I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the device whichI now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that suchchanges may be made When desired as are Within the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

Having thus described thel invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a crate provided ivith an opening, a door for closing saidopening. spring members crossed intermediate of their ends and securedto the door at one end and pivotally connected to the crate at one endof the opening and having the opposite ends of the spring membersconfined to the opposite end of the door and free to move and projectingbeyond. the door and terminating in lateral extensions, and eyesprovided upon the crate atthe opposite end of the opening to receive theouter extensions of the said spring members.

2. A crate having an opening, a door for closing said opening', anoperating member consisting of a spring 'tvire bent upon itself formingcrossing members and a third member connecting the crossing members atone end, said members having their end portions projecting beyondopposite ends of the door, means for pivotally connecting said thirdmember to the crate, means for connecting the spring members to the dooradjacent said third member, a keeper coniining the opposite end portionsof the spring members to the opposite end of the door` the free ends ofsaid spring members having lateral extensions, and eyes provided uponthe crate to engage the outer extensions of the spring members forholding the door closed In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

in presence of tivo Witnesses.

CHARLES A. VALTON.

lVitnesses Citas. L. Gn'r'rnnrox, vCHARLES T. Ona.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

